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Or just buy an X-S20 instead, which has IBIS and EVF.

This external fan thing is a bit of a nonsense. It’s like raging because the Golf GTI is not as fast as a Porsche 911 GT3. Well doh! Like everything in this world, the less you spend, the less you get and the lowest priced things cannot be expected to compete with the highest priced stuff! My rule of thumb is that most things can be competitive with most things one class up or one class down, but two classes different is too much. So an example in Cameraland, might be X-M5 vs S9 vs S5iii. The X-M5 is competitive with the S9 and there are pros and cons to each, but other than size & weight (which is a whole different thing), the X-M5 is not competitive with the S5ii. S5ii vs Komodo vs Arri… There are levels.

Went to Manchester for the firs time (at 60!) and it's very photogenic - I will definitely be returning (with a tripod).

As far as the FX30 goes - well it's an excellent little camera. Very easy to use, produces a nice image and with the latest update even has shutter angle! A few of the lower light shots needed some NR adding in Resolve, but nothing outrageous. For the video above I didn't use Cineprint. CST, NR, Balance, Contrast, A dab of Film Look Creator then out through the DVR Kodak 2383 D55 LUT, via a CST to Cineon.

Yeah the price is a bit nuts, but I'd hope if the X-M5 is gangbusters popular then a third party will make it for half the cost, or even a quarter of the cost. So you can rig it up with the fan if you need it, but also you can strip it down and go lightweight (maybe you're just going to be a tourist and take a few snaps during your trip).

The whole external fan thing rubs me the wrong way. You shouldn't have to spend hundreds of dollars to get consistent and reliable record times. But as we saw with the S9, if you put recording limits you get bashed. Still, it's insane to me that you have to buy an external device to ensure reliability.

I think that goes for any camera really because if you want/need to add extra bits & bobs for it to work properly for you, maybe you need to consider something more suitable in the first place. But then again, if you don’t mind, enjoy even, building stuff up and breaking it back down as required, that’s cool. I’m in the former camp. A Smallrig base plate on my stills camera as it’s about 1 cm too short for my hand plus a Peak Design wrist thingy so the whole thing is snug in my hand. A Smallrig cage, side handle and Rode Micro on my run & gun video unit, but no top handle, external monitor, extra battery power or anything like that. A battery grip for each of my statics because I don’t want to be running out of power on a shoot and the alternative would be cages plus adding battery power that way, but that is way pricier so battery grips it is. I have think the beauty of something like the X-M5 is its size, ie, lack of. Of course it can be rigged out, but little point really when it has bigger siblings more suited to that in the first place. Unless your name is MacGyver.

I've given the topic a proper title which may help.

The Fujfilm X-M5 is compatible with Fujifilm's Cooling Fan FAN-001 https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1708267-REG/fujifilm_16757344_x_h_fan.html I wonder if that, or a similar third party product, would make it reliable vs overheating.

If this was shot with a hybrid cam, people would rather comment. But like that, nah.:) But yeah, awesome cinematography. Yesterday I watched "Don't come knocking", very stylized, almost too crafty and obvious camera, with some clumsy acting and cast but as a whole a satisfying experience and a day later after watching, I must say, a masterful film. With hybrid camera test videos I am getting annoyed by the supposely pretty girlfriends doing supposely cinematically indystyle things with senseless pushins and gimbalibis galore and smeary netflix lighting. I love a lot of the test videos with big fat "vintage" cameras. Maybe that's because some of the people who are foolish enough to bust their backs with these heavy oldtimers, they might be cinematographers or people who aspire cinematography with great passion and sincerity. Yeah, discussing cinematography beyond youtube shills is fun. I remember when Tony Zhou was all I cared for, of all the cinematography and cinema related channels. On of the very greatest video essayists and a legendary contributor. Let me check if he did an essay on PTA. Thank you for sharing and putting it on the map again for me. Definately a great film. @Tim Sewell

Nope, the GH6 got it too.

To be fair, their own product page for the S9 certainly says otherwise though. It’s all about the casual shooter. Particularly the crossed out edit graphic. I don’t disagree that it does a lot more but that’s what they’re aiming at based on their own marketing. Which is another aspect of the bundled launch in not having the right lenses or the right type of “reviewers” there. They hedged their bets and it all just looked very confused. Plus, the S5ii 😉 https://www.panasonic.com/uk/consumer/cameras-camcorders/lumix-mirrorless-cameras/lumix-s-full-frame-cameras/dc-s9.html

All of whom work in their accounts department.

Let’s be real, Panasonic isn’t targeting the casual shooter with this model. They’re aiming at the semi pro and advanced enthusiasts who need high end features, and dropping the price too low would undercut the value of what it offers. Plus, Panasonic hasn’t been silent. Look at the release of the GH7. This clearly shows they are investing in high quality gear and advancing technology, especially for video professionals. They’re not just coasting along. They’ve made it obvious where they’re headed with their recent releases. As for capitalism, it’s not just about keeping up with market trends. It’s also about knowing your market. Panasonic knows who they’re building for, people who need reliable tools for serious work. Yes, companies need to innovate, but that doesn’t mean dropping prices on premium products. There’s always room for new shiny tech, but the truth is, the features that cameras like the S9 and GH7 offer will remain relevant for years. Sure, things move fast, but you don’t need a new camera every year to stay competitive. The quality these cameras deliver is more than enough for most work, even as tech advances. So, while we all want more affordable options, Panasonic is sticking to its guns, building tools for those who need them long term rather than chasing short-term trends.

A camera with appeal to approximately 5 people on the planet. Should have made an S1H-S and used the sensor from the S5ii but with the OLPF which is possibly at least partly why the image from it is the best of all the S line cameras. It was the lack of PDAF and somewhat hit & miss reliability of AF at critical times that forced me to go S5ii. People generally love the S1H but for whatever reason, LUMIX do not appear to have milked it but instead, allowed it to slowly die. Ditto the S1R. Criminally overlooked, mainly for stills but...

I've said it before but the camera that presents the biggest challenge to Panasonic getting traction with their latter releases isn't made by someone else, its made by Panasonic themselves. The S5ii is the spanner in the works for the G9ii, GH7 and S9. Cheaper than the first two (and lets not ignore the not insubstantial difference of it being FF over MFT) and easily justifying the extra £300 over the last one for the additional features. How likely do you think it is that someone walks into a camera store to buy a Panasonic camera and doesn't walk out with the S5ii when presented with all four? Actually, or even all five if you are in Europe when you throw in whatever the hell the S5d is The ARRI LogC3 got a lot of buzz for the GH7 and maybe it could be the thing that does the same for the S9 but that is at the expense of pissing off every owner of the other S cameras. Discontinuing the S5ii seems the only way out of this for them !

Specs are solid but that is not a “prosumer” camera. S9 is not a prosumer camera. FX30, FX3, X-H2s, S5iix is what I think most people would classify as “prosumer”. But camera companies have to sell cameras and for all I know, this is what needs to be done to sell cameras in 2024? It makes sense considering how we consume content these days.

It makes perfect sense (in my opinion) because: A. I think they overpriced it to start with. Should have been 1250 max. That would have increased the buzz but the price was and is a major criticism by most. B. They fluffed it’s launch within The Community at least. It was controversial to say the least on various levels, but specifically that utterly shit launch lens. C. Outside The Community, people shop on brand and price. Fuji vs Panasonic Lumix, not much in that but the Fuji is something like 40% cheaper. D. Panasonic’s market share is lower than Fujis with Fujis image increasing (TikTok X100 just one example) whereas LUMIX has flatlined at best. Without a halo product in an S2R or S2H very soon, they risk cardiac arrest as even within The Community, folks WILL increasingly jump ship. It’s a dog eat dog world and folks generally do not back losers and LUMIX is in very real danger of being seen as a basket case. And I am a LUMIX fan. They are my brand of choice for video. I tried the S9. It was good but not great. I returned it for another (used at the SAME price) S5ii which is a far better camera at around the same price point. Would I ever consider buying and using another S9? Yes absolutely and have kept my Smallrig cage for it just in case that opportunity comes up, but only as a sidekick to an S2R because it does not tick enough boxes for me to be my A cam for pro work (single card slot and no fan being the principle deal-breakers there for me). The X-M5 is IMO a slightly less capable camera than the S9, mainly due to the lack of IBIS but if I was Average Joe browsing my local camera shop, the sales person would probably steer me towards the sub 1k camera and price-wise, I would convince myself that 899 is better than 1499 or whatever the S9 is currently priced at. But this is all just my personal opinion and maybe the S9 is flying off the shelves, loved by the masses and The Community, but the latter are just to busy to talk about it…

Yeah, I get it. I was just pointing out the discrepancy over what Sean said (who seemed to indicate they're flying off the shelves) and the very unofficial information I have. I know what the camera is capable of too. The frustration with Panasonic stems from the X-M5 release and their unwillingness to make a small camera for enthusiasts that isn't at pro-level prices. The S9 practically has no suitable lenses for it. For M43, they have a full ecosystem that is ready to go with many willing buyers. At this point, I can only believe they've left M43 to just high-end, big cameras. Please prove me otherwise Panasonic. It's possible- Fuji did it. Why not you?

It’s easy to jump to conclusions about a lack of hype for the Panasonic S9, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not selling. I’ve found a few YouTubers who reviewed the S9, such as in this review where it was tested over the course of a week with a focus on how it performs in the field. The reviewer didn’t hold back on both the good and bad points. As for the lack of YouTube buzz, it’s worth noting that just because a camera isn’t flooding review channels doesn’t mean people aren’t buying it. Some users may be busy using the camera for actual shoots rather than focusing on making reviews. The S9 is packed with professional features like LUT integration and 6K video, which are meant for creators who are likely more interested in putting it to work than reviewing it. Finally, B&H reviews alone don’t fully represent the bigger picture. Many people don’t leave reviews, even if they’re satisfied with the product, and a lack of complaints online can often mean that users are content.

Was trying to edit my other post to add more of my thought, but I guess I was too late… As a camera tech aficionado, I’ve noticed gear buying has become more about status than skill, even among so-called “professionals.” The pros I’ve learned from? They stuck with their equipment for years and still delivered incredible work, focusing on mastering their tools instead of chasing every new release. That said, I’ve evolved too. I used to scoff at autofocus, but now, as a one-man band, I need gear that lets me concentrate on composition and sound without worrying about missed focus. That’s why any new camera I get has to have dependable autofocus. I’m leaning toward the GH7 for its 32-bit audio. Its perfect for solo shooters. And while the X-M5 has stunning image quality, I’d only consider it if the autofocus could keep up. For now, the tools I have are more than enough.

S9 needs to be priced at 999 or LUMIX might need to call 999. (UK emergency number for non-Brits)

I think the significance of this camera extends far beyond whether you actually want it because it doesn’t tick every box for you. That significance is being able to say to other manufacturers “OK, now why can’t YOU do this for $799?”

The relaunched S5 with full Hdmi would have been all the camera I ever needed for personal and semipro use. Another missed opportunity. There is no L mount option for the TTArtisan 27mm f/2.8 Lens, which @IronFilm has mentioned in the Fuji XM5 thread. Lumix S9 users might be using it for S35 pocket cinema fun. But then there are not so many S9 owners. If I had bought one, I would neither be exited about the micro hdmi which it shares with the Fuji XM5 nor about the fact that it does not offer external Braw while the Fuji does on the other hand. Though greatest deal breakers still remain the missing evf, mechanical shutter and hotshoe. Awesome to see the awesome Phillip Reeve been linked to btw:)

Nope, never. Just me myself and I 😱 Renting kit in France is not as easy as it is in say the UK or US. Bigger cities have some rental places, but I am nowhere near any of them (closest is Paris at 3 hours) and the courier system isn’t great… The only playtime I get is if I can get into an actual bricks & mortar shop which again means big city which for me as a country boy, is about 1-2 times a year max. So I need to really nail down my needs, do my research as best I can, buy & try. And even then, sometimes you know straight away with a bit of kit and with other stuff, it takes time and more prolonged usage. But as above, all of my needs are now covered and all of the major brands could now tick all my boxes so it’s mostly a case of want plus cost now that determines any future kit. Arguably, I do not need anything beyond the S5ii from LUMIX and I don’t, but I would like certain things and if those things come in the future, I will consider them. Just give me an S1H and an S1R in an S5ii body and holy crap, that would be a dream set up!

Last week I tested my nikon ai 50mm from the 70s against a modern Irix 45mm, which is not a particularly cheap lens. At f1.4, the irix is clearly sharper and optically better in every way. But by f4 the only difference is that the irix is warmer, no appreciable difference in sharpness, CA, distortion, etc. A decently made nifty fifty from the 80s can be pretty damn good, if it doesn't need to be super fast!

It'd be the death nail for M43 so it wouldn't make sense in that regard. It's kind of a bummer that they didn't make the M43 lens mount larger when introducing it. I imagine they never thought they'd go full frame, but it'd have been really nice.

Imagine this hardware with iOS